U.S. patent application number 17/241041 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-12 for systems and methods for suppressing sound leakage.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHENZHEN VOXTECH CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SHENZHEN VOXTECH CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hao CHEN, Qian CHEN, Fengyun LIAO, Xin QI, Jinbo ZHENG.
Application Number | 20210250707 17/241041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005541008 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210250707 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
QI; Xin ; et al. |
August 12, 2021 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUPPRESSING SOUND LEAKAGE
Abstract
A speaker comprises a housing, a transducer residing inside the
housing, and at least one sound guiding hole located on the
housing. The transducer generates vibrations. The vibrations
produce a sound wave inside the housing and cause a leaked sound
wave spreading outside the housing from a portion of the housing.
The at least one sound guiding hole guides the sound wave inside
the housing through the at least one sound guiding hole to an
outside of the housing. The guided sound wave interferes with the
leaked sound wave in a target region. The interference at a
specific frequency relates to a distance between the at least one
sound guiding hole and the portion of the housing.
Inventors: |
QI; Xin; (Shenzhen, CN)
; LIAO; Fengyun; (Shenzhen, CN) ; ZHENG;
Jinbo; (Shenzhen, CN) ; CHEN; Qian; (Shenzhen,
CN) ; CHEN; Hao; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHENZHEN VOXTECH CO., LTD. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
SHENZHEN VOXTECH CO., LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
1000005541008 |
Appl. No.: |
17/241041 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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17170913 |
Feb 9, 2021 |
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17241041 |
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17074762 |
Oct 20, 2020 |
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17170913 |
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16813915 |
Mar 10, 2020 |
10848878 |
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17074762 |
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16419049 |
May 22, 2019 |
10616696 |
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16813915 |
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16180020 |
Nov 5, 2018 |
10334372 |
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16419049 |
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15650909 |
Jul 16, 2017 |
10149071 |
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16180020 |
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15109831 |
Jul 6, 2016 |
9729978 |
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PCT/CN2014/094065 |
Dec 17, 2014 |
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15650909 |
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16833839 |
Mar 30, 2020 |
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17170913 |
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15752452 |
Feb 13, 2018 |
10609496 |
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PCT/CN2015/086907 |
Aug 13, 2015 |
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16833839 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G10K 9/22 20130101; H04R
1/2876 20130101; H04R 2460/13 20130101; H04R 9/066 20130101; G10K
9/13 20130101; G10K 11/26 20130101; H04R 25/505 20130101; G10K
11/178 20130101; H04R 1/2811 20130101; G10K 11/175 20130101; G10K
2210/3216 20130101; H04R 17/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 25/00 20060101
H04R025/00; G10K 11/26 20060101 G10K011/26; H04R 1/28 20060101
H04R001/28; G10K 11/178 20060101 G10K011/178; G10K 9/22 20060101
G10K009/22; H04R 9/06 20060101 H04R009/06; G10K 11/175 20060101
G10K011/175; G10K 9/13 20060101 G10K009/13 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 6, 2014 |
CN |
201410005804.0 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: providing a speaker configured to be worn
by a user, the speaker including: a housing having an inner side
facing the user, the inner side including a first portion that is
in contact with the user and a second portion that is not in
contact with the user; a transducer residing inside the housing and
configured to generate vibrations, the vibrations producing a sound
wave inside the housing and causing a leaked sound wave spreading
outside the housing; and at least one sound guiding hole located on
the second portion of the inner side and configured to guide the
sound wave inside the housing through the at least one sound
guiding hole to an outside of the housing, the guided sound wave
having a phase different from a phase of the leaked sound wave, the
guided sound wave interfering with the leaked sound wave in a
target region, and the interference reducing a sound pressure level
of the leaked sound wave in the target region.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sound guiding
hole on the second portion of the inner side faces an ear canal of
the user.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a bottom
side and a sidewall, the bottom side facing away from the user and
being opposite to the inner side of the housing, the sidewall being
located between the inner side and the bottom side.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the inner
side is located between the first portion of the inner side and the
sidewall of the housing.
5. The method of claim 3, further comprising another sound guiding
hole located on the bottom side or the sidewall of the housing.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein a location of the at least one
sound guiding hole is determined based on at least one of: a
vibration frequency of the transducer, a shape of the at least one
sound guiding hole, the target region, or a frequency range within
which the sound pressure level of the leaked sound wave is to be
reduced.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sound guiding
hole includes a damping layer, the damping layer adjusting the
phase of the guided sound wave in the target region.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the guided sound wave includes at
least two sound waves having different phases.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one sound guiding
hole includes two sound guiding holes.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the two sound guiding holes are
arranged to generate the at least two sound waves having different
phases to reduce the sound pressure level of the leaked sound wave
having different wavelengths.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the leaked
sound wave whose sound pressure level is reduced is within a range
of 1500 Hz to 3000 Hz.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sound pressure level of the
at least a portion of the leaked sound wave is reduced by more than
10 dB on average.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the leaked
sound wave whose sound pressure level is reduced is within a range
of 2000 Hz to 2500 Hz.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sound pressure level of the
at least a portion of the leaked sound wave is reduced by more than
20 dB on average.
15. A speaker configured to be worn by a user, comprising: a
housing having an inner side facing the user, the inner side of the
housing including a first portion that is in contact with the user
and a second portion that is not in contact with the user; a
transducer residing inside the housing and configured to generate
vibrations, the vibrations producing a sound wave inside the
housing and causing a leaked sound wave spreading outside the
housing; and at least one sound guiding hole located on the second
portion of the inner side and configured to guide the sound wave
inside the housing through the at least one sound guiding hole to
an outside of the housing, the guided sound wave having a phase
different from a phase of the leaked sound wave, the guided sound
wave interfering with the leaked sound wave in a target region, and
the interference reducing a sound pressure level of the leaked
sound wave in the target region.
16. The speaker of claim 15, wherein the at least one sound guiding
hole on the second portion of the inner side faces an ear canal of
the user.
17. The speaker of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a bottom
side and a sidewall, the bottom side facing away from the user and
being opposite to the inner side of the housing, the sidewall being
located between the inner side and the bottom side.
18. The speaker of claim 17, wherein the second portion of the
inner side is located between the first portion of the inner side
and the sidewall of the housing.
19. The speaker of claim 17, further comprising another sound
guiding hole located on the bottom side or the sidewall of the
housing.
20. The speaker of claim 15, wherein the at least one sound guiding
hole includes a damping layer, the damping layer adjusting the
phase of the guided sound wave in the target region.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 17/170,913, filed on Feb. 9, 2021, which is a
continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 17/074,762, filed on Oct. 20, 2020, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/813,915
(issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,848,878), filed on Mar. 10, 2020, which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/419,049
(issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,616,696), filed on May 22, 2019, which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/180,020
(issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,334,372), filed on Nov. 5, 2018, which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/650,909
(issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,149,071), filed on Jul. 16, 2017, which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/109,831
(issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,729,978), filed on Jul. 6, 2016, which
is a U.S. National Stage entry under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of
International Application PCT/CN2014/094065, filed on Dec. 17,
2014, designating the United States of America, which claims
priority to Chinese Patent Application 201410005804.0, filed on
Jan. 6, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/170,913 is also a
continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 16/833,839, filed on Mar. 30, 2020, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 15/752,452 (issued as U.S. Pat. No.
10,609,496), filed on Feb. 13, 2018, which is a national stage
entry under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of International Application
PCT/CN2015/086907, filed on Aug. 13, 2015, the entire contents of
each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This application relates to a bone conduction device, and
more specifically, relates to methods and systems for reducing
sound leakage by a bone conduction device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A bone conduction speaker, which may be also called a
vibration speaker, may push human tissues and bones to stimulate
the auditory nerve in cochlea and enable people to hear sound. The
bone conduction speaker is also called a bone conduction
headphone.
[0004] An exemplary structure of a bone conduction speaker based on
the principle of the bone conduction speaker is shown in FIGS. 1A
and 1B. The bone conduction speaker may include an open housing
110, a panel 121, a transducer 122, and a linking component 123.
The transducer 122 may transduce electrical signals to mechanical
vibrations. The panel 121 may be connected to the transducer 122
and vibrate synchronically with the transducer 122. The panel 121
may stretch out from the opening of the housing 110 and contact
with human skin to pass vibrations to auditory nerves through human
tissues and bones, which in turn enables people to hear sound. The
linking component 123 may reside between the transducer 122 and the
housing 110, configured to fix the vibrating transducer 122 inside
the housing 110. To minimize its effect on the vibrations generated
by the transducer 122, the linking component 123 may be made of an
elastic material.
[0005] However, the mechanical vibrations generated by the
transducer 122 may not only cause the panel 121 to vibrate, but may
also cause the housing 110 to vibrate through the linking component
123. Accordingly, the mechanical vibrations generated by the bone
conduction speaker may push human tissues through the bone board
121, and at the same time a portion of the vibrating board 121 and
the housing 110 that are not in contact with human issues may
nevertheless push air. Air sound may thus be generated by the air
pushed by the portion of the vibrating board 121 and the housing
110. The air sound may be called "sound leakage." In some cases,
sound leakage is harmless. However, sound leakage should be avoided
as much as possible if people intend to protect privacy when using
the bone conduction speaker or try not to disturb others when
listening to music.
[0006] Attempting to solve the problem of sound leakage, Korean
patent KR10-2009-0082999 discloses a bone conduction speaker of a
dual magnetic structure and double-frame. As shown in FIG. 2, the
speaker disclosed in the patent includes: a first frame 210 with an
open upper portion and a second frame 220 that surrounds the
outside of the first frame 210. The second frame 220 is separately
placed from the outside of the first frame 210. The first frame 210
includes a movable coil 230 with electric signals, an inner
magnetic component 240, an outer magnetic component 250, a magnet
field formed between the inner magnetic component 240, and the
outer magnetic component 250. The inner magnetic component 240 and
the out magnetic component 250 may vibrate by the attraction and
repulsion force of the coil 230 placed in the magnet field. A
vibration board 260 connected to the moving coil 230 may receive
the vibration of the moving coil 230. A vibration unit 270
connected to the vibration board 260 may pass the vibration to a
user by contacting with the skin. As described in the patent, the
second frame 220 surrounds the first frame 210, in order to use the
second frame 220 to prevent the vibration of the first frame 210
from dissipating the vibration to outsides, and thus may reduce
sound leakage to some extent.
[0007] However, in this design, since the second frame 220 is fixed
to the first frame 210, vibrations of the second frame 220 are
inevitable. As a result, sealing by the second frame 220 is
unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the second frame 220 increases the
whole volume and weight of the speaker, which in turn increases the
cost, complicates the assembly process, and reduces the speaker's
reliability and consistency.
SUMMARY
[0008] The embodiments of the present application disclose methods
and system of reducing sound leakage of a speaker.
[0009] In one aspect, the embodiments of the present application
disclose a method of reducing sound leakage of a bone conduction
speaker, including: providing a bone conduction speaker including a
panel fitting human skin and passing vibrations, a transducer, and
a housing, wherein at least one sound guiding hole is located in at
least one portion of the housing; the transducer drives the panel
to vibrate; the housing vibrates, along with the vibrations of the
transducer, and pushes air, forming a leaked sound wave transmitted
in the air; the air inside the housing is pushed out of the housing
through the at least one sound guiding hole, interferes with the
leaked sound wave, and reduces an amplitude of the leaked sound
wave.
[0010] In some embodiments, one or more sound guiding holes may
locate in an upper portion, a central portion, and/or a lower
portion of a sidewall and/or the bottom of the housing.
[0011] In some embodiments, a damping layer may be applied in the
at least one sound guiding hole in order to adjust the phase and
amplitude of the guided sound wave through the at least one sound
guiding hole.
[0012] In some embodiments, sound guiding holes may be configured
to generate guided sound waves having a same phase that reduce the
leaked sound wave having a same wavelength; sound guiding holes may
be configured to generate guided sound waves having different
phases that reduce the leaked sound waves having different
wavelengths.
[0013] In some embodiments, different portions of a same sound
guiding hole may be configured to generate guided sound waves
having a same phase that reduce the leaked sound wave having same
wavelength. In some embodiments, different portions of a same sound
guiding hole may be configured to generate guided sound waves
having different phases that reduce leaked sound waves having
different wavelengths.
[0014] In another aspect, the embodiments of the present
application disclose a bone conduction speaker, including a
housing, a panel and a transducer, wherein:
[0015] the transducer is configured to generate vibrations and is
located inside the housing;
[0016] the panel is configured to be in contact with skin and pass
vibrations;
[0017] At least one sound guiding hole may locate in at least one
portion on the housing, and preferably, the at least one sound
guiding hole may be configured to guide a sound wave inside the
housing, resulted from vibrations of the air inside the housing, to
the outside of the housing, the guided sound wave interfering with
the leaked sound wave and reducing the amplitude thereof.
[0018] In some embodiments, the at least one sound guiding hole may
locate in the sidewall and/or bottom of the housing.
[0019] In some embodiments, preferably, the at least one sound
guiding sound hole may locate in the upper portion and/or lower
portion of the sidewall of the housing.
[0020] In some embodiments, preferably, the sidewall of the housing
is cylindrical and there are at least two sound guiding holes
located in the sidewall of the housing, which are arranged evenly
or unevenly in one or more circles. Alternatively, the housing may
have a different shape.
[0021] In some embodiments, preferably, the sound guiding holes
have different heights along the axial direction of the cylindrical
sidewall.
[0022] In some embodiments, preferably, there are at least two
sound guiding holes located in the bottom of the housing. In some
embodiments, the sound guiding holes are distributed evenly or
unevenly in one or more circles around the center of the bottom.
Alternatively or additionally, one sound guiding hole is located at
the center of the bottom of the housing.
[0023] In some embodiments, preferably, the sound guiding hole is a
perforative hole. In some embodiments, there may be a damping layer
at the opening of the sound guiding hole.
[0024] In some embodiments, preferably, the guided sound waves
through different sound guiding holes and/or different portions of
a same sound guiding hole have different phases or a same
phase.
[0025] In some embodiments, preferably, the damping layer is a
tuning paper, a tuning cotton, a nonwoven fabric, a silk, a cotton,
a sponge, or a rubber.
[0026] In some embodiments, preferably, the shape of a sound
guiding hole is circle, ellipse, quadrangle, rectangle, or linear.
In some embodiments, the sound guiding holes may have a same shape
or different shapes.
[0027] In some embodiments, preferably, the transducer includes a
magnetic component and a voice coil. Alternatively, the transducer
includes piezoelectric ceramic.
[0028] The design disclosed above utilizes the principles of sound
interference, by placing sound guiding holes in the housing, to
guide sound wave(s) inside the housing to the outside of the
housing, the guided sound wave(s) interfering with the leaked sound
wave, which is formed when the housing's vibrations push the air
outside the housing. The guided sound wave(s) reduces the amplitude
of the leaked sound wave and thus reduces the sound leakage. The
design not only reduces sound leakage, but is also easy to
implement, doesn't increase the volume or weight of the bone
conduction speaker, and barely increase the cost of the
product.
[0029] In yet another aspect, the embodiments of the present
application disclose a method and system of reducing sound leakage
of a speaker. The speaker includes: a housing having an inner side
facing the user, the inner side including a first portion that is
in contact with the user and a second portion that is not in
contact with the user; a transducer residing inside the housing and
configured to generate vibrations, the vibrations producing a sound
wave inside the housing and causing a leaked sound wave spreading
outside the housing; and at least one sound guiding hole located on
the second portion of the inner side and configured to guide the
sound wave inside the housing through the at least one sound
guiding hole to an outside of the housing, the guided sound wave
having a phase different from a phase of the leaked sound wave, the
guided sound wave interfering with the leaked sound wave in a
target region, and the interference reducing a sound pressure level
of the leaked sound wave in the target region.
[0030] In some embodiments, the at least one sound guiding hole on
the second portion of the inner side faces an ear canal of the
user.
[0031] In some embodiments, the housing includes a bottom side and
a sidewall, the bottom side facing away from the user and being
opposite to the inner side of the housing, the sidewall being
located between the inner side and the bottom side.
[0032] In some embodiments, the second portion of the inner side is
located between the first portion of the inner side and the
sidewall of the housing.
[0033] In some embodiments, the speaker further includes another
sound guiding hole located on the bottom side or the sidewall of
the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic structures illustrating a bone
conduction speaker of prior art;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic structure illustrating another bone
conduction speaker of prior art;
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates the principle of sound interference
according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 4C is a schematic structure of the bone conduction
speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage of
the bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 4E is a schematic diagram illustrating exemplary
two-point sound sources according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the equal-loudness contour
curves according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of reducing
sound leakage of a bone conduction speaker according to some
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0043] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage of a
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0045] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic structure of an exemplary bone
conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0046] FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage of a
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0047] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0048] FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage of a
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0049] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0050] FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage of
a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0051] FIG. 10D is a schematic diagram illustrating an acoustic
route according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0052] FIG. 10E is a schematic diagram illustrating another
acoustic route according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0053] FIG. 10F is a schematic diagram illustrating a further
acoustic route according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0054] FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage of
a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0056] FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0057] FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0058] FIG. 14A illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure;
[0059] FIG. 14B illustrates a vibration response curve of a bone
conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0060] FIG. 14C illustrates a sound leakage curve of a bone
conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0061] FIG. 15 illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure;
[0062] FIG. 16A illustrates an application scenario of a bone
conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0063] FIG. 16B illustrates a vibration response curve of a bone
conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0064] FIG. 17 illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure; and
[0065] FIG. 18 illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure.
[0066] The meanings of the mark numbers in the figures are as
followed:
[0067] 110, open housing; 121, panel; 122, transducer; 123, linking
component; 210, first frame; 220, second frame; 230, moving coil;
240, inner magnetic component; 250, outer magnetic component; 260;
panel; 270, vibration unit; 10, housing; 11, sidewall; 12, bottom;
21, panel; 22, transducer; 23, linking component; 24, elastic
component; 30, sound guiding hole.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0068] Followings are some further detailed illustrations about
this disclosure. The following examples are for illustrative
purposes only and should not be interpreted as limitations of the
claimed invention. There are a variety of alternative techniques
and procedures available to those of ordinary skill in the art,
which would similarly permit one to successfully perform the
intended invention. In addition, the figures just show the
structures relative to this disclosure, not the whole
structure.
[0069] To explain the scheme of the embodiments of this disclosure,
the design principles of this disclosure will be introduced here.
FIG. 3 illustrates the principles of sound interference according
to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Two or more sound
waves may interfere in the space based on, for example, the
frequency and/or amplitude of the waves. Specifically, the
amplitudes of the sound waves with the same frequency may be
overlaid to generate a strengthened wave or a weakened wave. As
shown in FIG. 3, sound source 1 and sound source 2 have the same
frequency and locate in different locations in the space. The sound
waves generated from these two sound sources may encounter in an
arbitrary point A. If the phases of the sound wave 1 and sound wave
2 are the same at point A, the amplitudes of the two sound waves
may be added, generating a strengthened sound wave signal at point
A; on the other hand, if the phases of the two sound waves are
opposite at point A, their amplitudes may be offset, generating a
weakened sound wave signal at point A.
[0070] This disclosure applies above-noted the principles of sound
wave interference to a bone conduction speaker and disclose a bone
conduction speaker that can reduce sound leakage.
Embodiment One
[0071] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker. The bone conduction speaker may include a
housing 10, a panel 21, and a transducer 22. The transducer 22 may
be inside the housing 10 and configured to generate vibrations. The
housing 10 may have one or more sound guiding holes 30. The sound
guiding hole(s) 30 may be configured to guide sound waves inside
the housing 10 to the outside of the housing 10. In some
embodiments, the guided sound waves may form interference with
leaked sound waves generated by the vibrations of the housing 10,
so as to reducing the amplitude of the leaked sound. The transducer
22 may be configured to convert an electrical signal to mechanical
vibrations. For example, an audio electrical signal may be
transmitted into a voice coil that is placed in a magnet, and the
electromagnetic interaction may cause the voice coil to vibrate
based on the audio electrical signal. As another example, the
transducer 22 may include piezoelectric ceramics, shape changes of
which may cause vibrations in accordance with electrical signals
received.
[0072] Furthermore, the panel 21 may be connected to the transducer
22 and configured to vibrate along with the transducer 22. The
panel 21 may stretch out from the opening of the housing 10, and
touch the skin of the user and pass vibrations to auditory nerves
through human tissues and bones, which in turn enables the user to
hear sound. The linking component 23 may reside between the
transducer 22 and the housing 10, configured to fix the vibrating
transducer 122 inside the housing. The linking component 23 may
include one or more separate components, or may be integrated with
the transducer 22 or the housing 10. In some embodiments, the
linking component 23 is made of an elastic material.
[0073] The transducer 22 may drive the panel 21 to vibrate. The
transducer 22, which resides inside the housing 10, may vibrate.
The vibrations of the transducer 22 may drives the air inside the
housing 10 to vibrate, producing a sound wave inside the housing
10, which can be referred to as "sound wave inside the housing."
Since the panel 21 and the transducer 22 are fixed to the housing
10 via the linking component 23, the vibrations may pass to the
housing 10, causing the housing 10 to vibrate synchronously. The
vibrations of the housing 10 may generate a leaked sound wave,
which spreads outwards as sound leakage.
[0074] The sound wave inside the housing and the leaked sound wave
are like the two sound sources in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the
sidewall 11 of the housing 10 may have one or more sound guiding
holes 30 configured to guide the sound wave inside the housing 10
to the outside. The guided sound wave through the sound guiding
hole(s) 30 may interfere with the leaked sound wave generated by
the vibrations of the housing 10, and the amplitude of the leaked
sound wave may be reduced due to the interference, which may result
in a reduced sound leakage. Therefore, the design of this
embodiment can solve the sound leakage problem to some extent by
making an improvement of setting a sound guiding hole on the
housing, and not increasing the volume and weight of the bone
conduction speaker.
[0075] In some embodiments, one sound guiding hole 30 is set on the
upper portion of the sidewall 11. As used herein, the upper portion
of the sidewall 11 refers to the portion of the sidewall 11
starting from the top of the sidewall (contacting with the panel
21) to about the 1/3 height of the sidewall.
[0076] FIG. 4C is a schematic structure of the bone conduction
speaker illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B. The structure of the bone
conduction speaker is further illustrated with mechanics elements
illustrated in FIG. 4C. As shown in FIG. 4C, the linking component
23 between the sidewall 11 of the housing 10 and the panel 21 may
be represented by an elastic element 23 and a damping element in
the parallel connection. The linking relationship between the panel
21 and the transducer 22 may be represented by an elastic element
24.
[0077] Outside the housing 10, the sound leakage reduction is
proportional to
(.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.holePds-.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.housingP.sub.dds)-
, (1)
wherein S.sub.hole is the area of the opening of the sound guiding
hole 30, S.sub.housing is the area of the housing 10 (e.g., the
sidewall 11 and the bottom 12) that is not in contact with human
face.
[0078] The pressure inside the housing may be expressed as
P=P.sub.a+P.sub.b+P.sub.c+P.sub.e, (2) wherein P.sub.a, P.sub.b,
P.sub.c and P.sub.e are the sound pressures of an arbitrary point
inside the housing 10 generated by side a, side b, side c and side
e (as illustrated in FIG. 4C), respectively. As used herein, side a
refers to the upper surface of the transducer 22 that is close to
the panel 21, side b refers to the lower surface of the panel 21
that is close to the transducer 22, side c refers to the inner
upper surface of the bottom 12 that is close to the transducer 22,
and side e refers to the lower surface of the transducer 22 that is
close to the bottom 12.
[0079] The center of the side b, O point, is set as the origin of
the space coordinates, and the side b can be set as the z=0 plane,
so P.sub.a, P.sub.b, P.sub.c and P.sub.e may be expressed as
follows:
P a .function. ( x , y , z ) = - j .times. .omega. .times. .rho. 0
.times. .intg. .intg. S a .times. W a .function. ( x a ' , .times.
y a ' ) e jkR .function. ( x a ' , .times. y a ' ) 4 .times. .pi.
.times. .times. R .function. ( x a ' , .times. y a ' ) .times. dx a
' .times. dy a ' - P a .times. R , ( 3 ) P b .function. ( x , y , z
) = - j .times. .omega. .times. .rho. 0 .times. .intg. .intg. S b
.times. W b .function. ( x ' , y ' ) e jkR .function. ( x ' , y ' )
4 .times. .pi. .times. .times. R .function. ( x ' , y ' ) .times.
dx ' .times. dy ' - P b .times. R , ( 4 ) P c .function. ( x , y ,
z ) = - j .times. .omega. .times. .rho. 0 .times. .intg. .intg. S c
.times. W c .function. ( x c ' , y c ' ) e jkR .function. ( x c ' ,
y c ' ) 4 .times. .pi. .times. .times. R .function. ( x c ' , y c '
) .times. dx c ' .times. dy c ' - P c .times. R , ( 5 ) P e
.function. ( x , y , z ) = - j .times. .omega. .times. .rho. 0
.times. .intg. .intg. S e .times. W e .function. ( x e ' , y e ' )
e jkR .function. ( x e ' , y e ' ) 4 .times. .pi. .times. .times. R
.function. ( x e ' , y e ' ) .times. dx e ' .times. dy e ' - P e
.times. R , ( 6 ) ##EQU00001##
wherein R(x',y')= {square root over
((x-x').sup.2+(y-y').sup.2+z.sup.2)} is the distance between an
observation point (x, y, z) and a point on side b (x',y',0);
S.sub.a, S.sub.b, S.sub.c and S.sub.e are the areas of side a, side
b, side c and side e, respectively; R(x'.sub.a,y'.sub.a)= {square
root over
((x-x.sub.a').sup.2+(y-y.sub.a').sup.2+(z-z.sub.a).sup.2)} is the
distance between the observation point (x, y, z) and a point on
side a (x'.sub.a,y.sub.a',z.sub.a); R(x'.sub.c,y'.sub.c)= {square
root over
((x-x.sub.c').sup.2+(y-y.sub.c').sup.2+(z-z.sub.c).sup.2)} point
(x, y, z) and a point on side c (x'.sub.c,y'.sub.c,z.sub.c);
R(x'.sub.e,y'.sub.e)= {square root over
((x-x.sub.e').sup.2+(y-y.sub.e').sup.2+(z-z.sub.e).sup.2)} is the
distance between the observation point (x, y, z) and a point on
side e (x'.sub.e,y'.sub.e,z.sub.e); k=.omega./u (u is the velocity
of sound) is wave number, .rho..sub.0 is an air density, .omega. is
an angular frequency of vibration; P.sub.aR, P.sub.bR, P.sub.cR and
P.sub.eR are acoustic resistances of air, which respectively
are:
P a .times. R = A z a r + j .times. .times. .omega. z a r ' .phi. +
.delta. , ( 7 ) P bR = A z b r + j .times. .times. .omega. z b r '
.phi. + .delta. , ( 8 ) P cR = A z c r + j .times. .times. .omega.
z c r ' .phi. + .delta. , ( 9 ) P eR = A z e r + j .times. .times.
.omega. z e r ' .phi. + .delta. , ( 10 ) ##EQU00002##
wherein r is the acoustic resistance per unit length, r' is the
sound quality per unit length, z.sub.a is the distance between the
observation point and side a, z.sub.b is the distance between the
observation point and side b, z.sub.c is the distance between the
observation point and side c, z.sub.e is the distance between the
observation point and side e.
[0080] W.sub.a (x,y), W.sub.b (x,y), W.sub.c (x,y), W.sub.e (x,y)
and W.sub.d (x,y) are the sound source power per unit area of side
a, side b, side c, side e and side d, respectively, which can be
derived from following formulas (11):
F.sub.e=F.sub.a=F-k.sub.1 cos
.omega.t-.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.aW.sub.a(x,y)dxdy-.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.-
eW.sub.e(x,y)dxdy-f
F.sub.b=-F+k.sub.1 cos
.omega.t+.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.bW.sub.b(x,y)dxdy-.intg..intg.S.sub.eW.su-
b.e(x,y)dxdy-L
F.sub.c=F.sub.d=F.sub.b-k.sub.2 cos
.omega.t-.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.cW.sub.c(x,y)dxdy-f-.gamma.
F.sub.d=F.sub.b-k.sub.2 cos
.omega.t-.intg..intg.S.sub.dW.sub.d(x,y)dxdy (11)
wherein F is the driving force generated by the transducer 22,
F.sub.a, F.sub.b, F.sub.c, F.sub.d, and F.sub.e are the driving
forces of side a, side b, side c, side d and side e, respectively.
As used herein, side d is the outside surface of the bottom 12.
S.sub.d is the region of side d, f is the viscous resistance formed
in the small gap of the sidewalls, and f=.eta..DELTA.s(dv/dy).
[0081] L is the equivalent load on human face when the panel acts
on the human face, .gamma. is the energy dissipated on elastic
element 24, k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 are the elastic coefficients of
elastic element 23 and elastic element 24 respectively, .eta. is
the fluid viscosity coefficient, dv/dy is the velocity gradient of
fluid, .gamma.s is the cross-section area of a subject (board), A
is the amplitude, .phi. is the region of the sound field, and
.delta. is a high order minimum (which is generated by the
incompletely symmetrical shape of the housing);
[0082] The sound pressure of an arbitrary point outside the
housing, generated by the vibration of the housing 10 is expressed
as:
P d .function. ( x , y , z ) = - j .times. .omega. .times. .rho. 0
.times. .intg. .intg. W d .function. ( x d ' , y d ' ) e jkR
.function. ( x d ' , y d ' ) 4 .times. .pi. .times. .times. R
.function. ( x d ' , y d ' ) .times. dx d ' .times. dy d ' - P dR ,
( 12 ) ##EQU00003##
wherein R(x'.sub.d,y'.sub.d)= {square root over
((x-x.sub.d').sup.2+(y-y.sub.d').sup.2+(z-z.sub.d).sup.2)} is the
distance between the observation point (x, y, z) and a point on
side d (x'.sub.d, y'.sub.d, z.sub.d).
[0083] P.sub.a, P.sub.b, P.sub.c and P.sub.e are functions of the
position, when we set a hole on an arbitrary position in the
housing, if the area of the hole is S.sub.hole, the sound pressure
of the hole is .intg..intg..sub.S.sub.hole Pds.
[0084] In the meanwhile, because the panel 21 fits human tissues
tightly, the power it gives out is absorbed all by human tissues,
so the only side that can push air outside the housing to vibrate
is side d, thus forming sound leakage. As described elsewhere, the
sound leakage is resulted from the vibrations of the housing 10.
For illustrative purposes, the sound pressure generated by the
housing 10 may be expressed as .intg..intg..sub.S.sub.housing
P.sub.d ds.
[0085] The leaked sound wave and the guided sound wave interference
may result in a weakened sound wave, i.e., to make
.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.hole Pds and .intg..intg..sub.S.sub.housing
have the same value but opposite directions, and the sound leakage
may be reduced. In some embodiments, .intg..intg..sub.S.sub.hole
Pds may be adjusted to reduce the sound leakage. Since
.intg..intg..sub.S.sub.hole Pds corresponds to information of
phases and amplitudes of one or more holes, which further relates
to dimensions of the housing of the bone conduction speaker, the
vibration frequency of the transducer, the position, shape,
quantity and/or size of the sound guiding holes and whether there
is damping inside the holes. Thus, the position, shape, and
quantity of sound guiding holes, and/or damping materials may be
adjusted to reduce sound leakage.
[0086] Additionally, because of the basic structure and function
differences of a bone conduction speaker and a traditional air
conduction speaker, the formulas above are only suitable for bone
conduction speakers. Whereas in traditional air conduction
speakers, the air in the air housing can be treated as a whole,
which is not sensitive to positions, and this is different
intrinsically with a bone conduction speaker, therefore the above
formulas are not suitable to an air conduction speaker.
[0087] According to the formulas above, a person having ordinary
skill in the art would understand that the effectiveness of
reducing sound leakage is related to the dimensions of the housing
of the bone conduction speaker, the vibration frequency of the
transducer, the position, shape, quantity and size of the sound
guiding hole(s) and whether there is damping inside the sound
guiding hole(s). Accordingly, various configurations, depending on
specific needs, may be obtained by choosing specific position where
the sound guiding hole(s) is located, the shape and/or quantity of
the sound guiding hole(s) as well as the damping material.
[0088] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the equal-loudness contour
curves according to some embodiments of the present disclose. The
horizontal coordinate is frequency, while the vertical coordinate
is sound pressure level (SPL). As used herein, the SPL refers to
the change of atmospheric pressure after being disturbed, i.e., a
surplus pressure of the atmospheric pressure, which is equivalent
to an atmospheric pressure added to a pressure change caused by the
disturbance. As a result, the sound pressure may reflect the
amplitude of a sound wave. In FIG. 5, on each curve, sound pressure
levels corresponding to different frequencies are different, while
the loudness levels felt by human ears are the same. For example,
each curve is labeled with a number representing the loudness level
of said curve. According to the loudness level curves, when volume
(sound pressure amplitude) is lower, human ears are not sensitive
to sounds of high or low frequencies; when volume is higher, human
ears are more sensitive to sounds of high or low frequencies. Bone
conduction speakers may generate sound relating to different
frequency ranges, such as 1000 Hz.about.4000 Hz, or 1000
Hz.about.4000 Hz, or 1000 Hz.about.3500 Hz, or 1000 Hz.about.3000
Hz, or 1500 Hz.about.3000 Hz. The sound leakage within the
above-mentioned frequency ranges may be the sound leakage aimed to
be reduced with a priority.
[0089] FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating the effect of reduced
sound leakage according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure, wherein the test results and calculation results are
close in the above range. The bone conduction speaker being tested
includes a cylindrical housing, which includes a sidewall and a
bottom, as described in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The cylindrical housing is
in a cylinder shape having a radius of 22 mm, the sidewall height
of 14 mm, and a plurality of sound guiding holes being set on the
upper portion of the sidewall of the housing. The openings of the
sound guiding holes are rectangle. The sound guiding holes are
arranged evenly on the sidewall. The target region where the sound
leakage is to be reduced is 50 cm away from the outside of the
bottom of the housing. The distance of the leaked sound wave
spreading to the target region and the distance of the sound wave
spreading from the surface of the transducer 20 through the sound
guiding holes 30 to the target region have a difference of about
180 degrees in phase. As shown, the leaked sound wave is reduced in
the target region dramatically or even be eliminated.
[0090] According to the embodiments in this disclosure, the
effectiveness of reducing sound leakage after setting sound guiding
holes is very obvious. As shown in FIG. 4D, the bone conduction
speaker having sound guiding holes greatly reduce the sound leakage
compared to the bone conduction speaker without sound guiding
holes.
[0091] In the tested frequency range, after setting sound guiding
holes, the sound leakage is reduced by about 10 dB on average.
Specifically, in the frequency range of 1500 Hz.about.3000 Hz, the
sound leakage is reduced by over 10 dB. In the frequency range of
2000 Hz.about.2500 Hz, the sound leakage is reduced by over 20 dB
compared to the scheme without sound guiding holes.
[0092] A person having ordinary skill in the art can understand
from the above-mentioned formulas that when the dimensions of the
bone conduction speaker, target regions to reduce sound leakage and
frequencies of sound waves differ, the position, shape and quantity
of sound guiding holes also need to adjust accordingly.
[0093] For example, in a cylinder housing, according to different
needs, a plurality of sound guiding holes may be on the sidewall
and/or the bottom of the housing. Preferably, the sound guiding
hole may be set on the upper portion and/or lower portion of the
sidewall of the housing. The quantity of the sound guiding holes
set on the sidewall of the housing is no less than two. Preferably,
the sound guiding holes may be arranged evenly or unevenly in one
or more circles with respect to the center of the bottom. In some
embodiments, the sound guiding holes may be arranged in at least
one circle. In some embodiments, one sound guiding hole may be set
on the bottom of the housing. In some embodiments, the sound
guiding hole may be set at the center of the bottom of the
housing.
[0094] The quantity of the sound guiding holes can be one or more.
Preferably, multiple sound guiding holes may be set symmetrically
on the housing. In some embodiments, there are 6-8 circularly
arranged sound guiding holes.
[0095] The openings (and cross sections) of sound guiding holes may
be circle, ellipse, rectangle, or slit. Slit generally means slit
along with straight lines, curve lines, or arc lines. Different
sound guiding holes in one bone conduction speaker may have same or
different shapes.
[0096] A person having ordinary skill in the art can understand
that, the sidewall of the housing may not be cylindrical, the sound
guiding holes can be arranged asymmetrically as needed. Various
configurations may be obtained by setting different combinations of
the shape, quantity, and position of the sound guiding. Some other
embodiments along with the figures are described as follows.
[0097] In some embodiments, the leaked sound wave may be generated
by a portion of the housing 10. The portion of the housing may be
the sidewall 11 of the housing 10 and/or the bottom 12 of the
housing 10. Merely by way of example, the leaked sound wave may be
generated by the bottom 12 of the housing 10. The guided sound wave
output through the sound guiding hole(s) 30 may interfere with the
leaked sound wave generated by the portion of the housing 10. The
interference may enhance or reduce a sound pressure level of the
guided sound wave and/or leaked sound wave in the target
region.
[0098] In some embodiments, the portion of the housing 10 that
generates the leaked sound wave may be regarded as a first sound
source (e.g., the sound source 1 illustrated in FIG. 3), and the
sound guiding hole(s) 30 or a part thereof may be regarded as a
second sound source (e.g., the sound source 2 illustrated in FIG.
3). Merely for illustration purposes, if the size of the sound
guiding hole on the housing 10 is small, the sound guiding hole may
be approximately regarded as a point sound source. In some
embodiments, any number or count of sound guiding holes provided on
the housing 10 for outputting sound may be approximated as a single
point sound source. Similarly, for simplicity, the portion of the
housing 10 that generates the leaked sound wave may also be
approximately regarded as a point sound source. In some
embodiments, both the first sound source and the second sound
source may approximately be regarded as point sound sources (also
referred to as two-point sound sources).
[0099] FIG. 4E is a schematic diagram illustrating exemplary
two-point sound sources according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure. The sound field pressure p generated by a
single point sound source may satisfy Equation (13):
p = j .times. .omega. .times. .rho. 0 4 .times. .pi. .times.
.times. r .times. Q 0 .times. exp .times. .times. j .function. (
.omega. .times. .times. t - kr ) , ( 13 ) ##EQU00004##
where .omega. denotes an angular frequency, .rho..sub.0 denotes an
air density, r denotes a distance between a target point and the
sound source, Q.sub.0 denotes a volume velocity of the sound
source, and k denotes a wave number. It may be concluded that the
magnitude of the sound field pressure of the sound field of the
point sound source is inversely proportional to the distance to the
point sound source.
[0100] It should be noted that, the sound guiding hole(s) for
outputting sound as a point sound source may only serve as an
explanation of the principle and effect of the present disclosure,
and the shape and/or size of the sound guiding hole(s) may not be
limited in practical applications. In some embodiments, if the area
of the sound guiding hole is large, the sound guiding hole may also
be equivalent to a planar sound source. Similarly, if an area of
the portion of the housing 10 that generates the leaked sound wave
is large (e.g., the portion of the housing 10 is a vibration
surface or a sound radiation surface), the portion of the housing
10 may also be equivalent to a planar sound source. For those
skilled in the art, without creative activities, it may be known
that sounds generated by structures such as sound guiding holes,
vibration surfaces, and sound radiation surfaces may be equivalent
to point sound sources at the spatial scale discussed in the
present disclosure, and may have consistent sound propagation
characteristics and the same mathematical description method.
Further, for those skilled in the art, without creative activities,
it may be known that the acoustic effect achieved by the two-point
sound sources may also be implemented by alternative acoustic
structures. According to actual situations, the alternative
acoustic structures may be modified and/or combined
discretionarily, and the same acoustic output effect may be
achieved.
[0101] The two-point sound sources may be formed such that the
guided sound wave output from the sound guiding hole(s) may
interfere with the leaked sound wave generated by the portion of
the housing 10. The interference may reduce a sound pressure level
of the leaked sound wave in the surrounding environment (e.g., the
target region). For convenience, the sound waves output from an
acoustic output device (e.g., the bone conduction speaker) to the
surrounding environment may be referred to as far-field leakage
since it may be heard by others in the environment. The sound waves
output from the acoustic output device to the ears of the user may
also be referred to as near-field sound since a distance between
the bone conduction speaker and the user may be relatively short.
In some embodiments, the sound waves output from the two-point
sound sources may have a same frequency or frequency range (e.g.,
800 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1500 Hz, 3000 Hz, etc.). In some embodiments, the
sound waves output from the two-point sound sources may have a
certain phase difference. In some embodiments, the sound guiding
hole includes a damping layer. The damping layer may be, for
example, a tuning paper, a tuning cotton, a nonwoven fabric, a
silk, a cotton, a sponge, or a rubber. The damping layer may be
configured to adjust the phase of the guided sound wave in the
target region. The acoustic output device described herein may
include a bone conduction speaker or an air conduction speaker. For
example, a portion of the housing (e.g., the bottom of the housing)
of the bone conduction speaker may be treated as one of the
two-point sound sources, and at least one sound guiding holes of
the bone conduction speaker may be treated as the other one of the
two-point sound sources. As another example, one sound guiding hole
of an air conduction speaker may be treated as one of the two-point
sound sources, and another sound guiding hole of the air conduction
speaker may be treated as the other one of the two-point sound
sources. It should be noted that, although the construction of
two-point sound sources may be different in bone conduction speaker
and air conduction speaker, the principles of the interference
between the various constructed two-point sound sources are the
same. Thus, the equivalence of the two-point sound sources in a
bone conduction speaker disclosed elsewhere in the present
disclosure is also applicable for an air conduction speaker.
[0102] In some embodiments, when the position and phase difference
of the two-point sound sources meet certain conditions, the
acoustic output device may output different sound effects in the
near field (for example, the position of the user's ear) and the
far field. For example, if the phases of the point sound sources
corresponding to the portion of the housing 10 and the sound
guiding hole(s) are opposite, that is, an absolute value of the
phase difference between the two-point sound sources is 180
degrees, the far-field leakage may be reduced according to the
principle of reversed phase cancellation.
[0103] In some embodiments, the interference between the guided
sound wave and the leaked sound wave at a specific frequency may
relate to a distance between the sound guiding hole(s) and the
portion of the housing 10. For example, if the sound guiding
hole(s) are set at the upper portion of the sidewall of the housing
10 (as illustrated in FIG. 4A), the distance between the sound
guiding hole(s) and the portion of the housing 10 may be large.
Correspondingly, the frequencies of sound waves generated by such
two-point sound sources may be in a mid-low frequency range (e.g.,
1500-2000 Hz, 1500-2500 Hz, etc.). Referring to FIG. 4D, the
interference may reduce the sound pressure level of the leaked
sound wave in the mid-low frequency range (i.e., the sound leakage
is low).
[0104] Merely by way of example, the low frequency range may refer
to frequencies in a range below a first frequency threshold. The
high frequency range may refer to frequencies in a range exceed a
second frequency threshold. The first frequency threshold may be
lower than the second frequency threshold. The mid-low frequency
range may refer to frequencies in a range between the first
frequency threshold and the second frequency threshold. For
example, the first frequency threshold may be 1000 Hz, and the
second frequency threshold may be 3000 Hz. The low frequency range
may refer to frequencies in a range below 1000 Hz, the high
frequency range may refer to frequencies in a range above 3000 Hz,
and the mid-low frequency range may refer to frequencies in a range
of 1000-2000 Hz, 1500-2500 Hz, etc. In some embodiments, a middle
frequency range, a mid-high frequency range may also be determined
between the first frequency threshold and the second frequency
threshold. In some embodiments, the mid-low frequency range and the
low frequency range may partially overlap. The mid-high frequency
range and the high frequency range may partially overlap. For
example, the mid-high frequency range may refer to frequencies in a
range above 3000 Hz, and the mid-low frequency range may refer to
frequencies in a range of 2800-3500 Hz. It should be noted that the
low frequency range, the mid-low frequency range, the middle
frequency range, the mid-high frequency range, and/or the high
frequency range may be set flexibly according to different
situations, and are not limited herein.
[0105] In some embodiments, the frequencies of the guided sound
wave and the leaked sound wave may be set in a low frequency range
(e.g., below 800 Hz, below 1200 Hz, etc.). In some embodiments, the
amplitudes of the sound waves generated by the two-point sound
sources may be set to be different in the low frequency range. For
example, the amplitude of the guided sound wave may be smaller than
the amplitude of the leaked sound wave. In this case, the
interference may not reduce sound pressure of the near-field sound
in the low-frequency range. The sound pressure of the near-field
sound may be improved in the low-frequency range. The volume of the
sound heard by the user may be improved.
[0106] In some embodiments, the amplitude of the guided sound wave
may be adjusted by setting an acoustic resistance structure in the
sound guiding hole(s) 30. The material of the acoustic resistance
structure disposed in the sound guiding hole 30 may include, but
not limited to, plastics (e.g., high-molecular polyethylene, blown
nylon, engineering plastics, etc.), cotton, nylon, fiber (e.g.,
glass fiber, carbon fiber, boron fiber, graphite fiber, graphene
fiber, silicon carbide fiber, or aramid fiber), other single or
composite materials, other organic and/or inorganic materials, etc.
The thickness of the acoustic resistance structure may be 0.005 mm,
0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, etc. The structure of the
acoustic resistance structure may be in a shape adapted to the
shape of the sound guiding hole. For example, the acoustic
resistance structure may have a shape of a cylinder, a sphere, a
cubic, etc. In some embodiments, the materials, thickness, and
structures of the acoustic resistance structure may be modified
and/or combined to obtain a desirable acoustic resistance
structure. In some embodiments, the acoustic resistance structure
may be implemented by the damping layer.
[0107] In some embodiments, the amplitude of the guided sound wave
output from the sound guiding hole may be relatively low (e.g.,
zero or almost zero). The difference between the guided sound wave
and the leaked sound wave may be maximized, thus achieving a
relatively large sound pressure in the near field. In this case,
the sound leakage of the acoustic output device having sound
guiding holes may be almost the same as the sound leakage of the
acoustic output device without sound guiding holes in the low
frequency range (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4D).
Embodiment Two
[0108] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of reducing
sound leakage of a bone conduction speaker according to some
embodiments of the present disclosure. At 601, a bone conduction
speaker including a panel 21 touching human skin and passing
vibrations, a transducer 22, and a housing 10 is provided. At least
one sound guiding hole 30 is arranged on the housing 10. At 602,
the panel 21 is driven by the transducer 22, causing the vibration
21 to vibrate. At 603, a leaked sound wave due to the vibrations of
the housing is formed, wherein the leaked sound wave transmits in
the air. At 604, a guided sound wave passing through the at least
one sound guiding hole 30 from the inside to the outside of the
housing 10. The guided sound wave interferes with the leaked sound
wave, reducing the sound leakage of the bone conduction
speaker.
[0109] The sound guiding holes 30 are preferably set at different
positions of the housing 10.
[0110] The effectiveness of reducing sound leakage may be
determined by the formulas and method as described above, based on
which the positions of sound guiding holes may be determined.
[0111] A damping layer is preferably set in a sound guiding hole 30
to adjust the phase and amplitude of the sound wave transmitted
through the sound guiding hole 30.
[0112] In some embodiments, different sound guiding holes may
generate different sound waves having a same phase to reduce the
leaked sound wave having the same wavelength. In some embodiments,
different sound guiding holes may generate different sound waves
having different phases to reduce the leaked sound waves having
different wavelengths.
[0113] In some embodiments, different portions of a sound guiding
hole 30 may be configured to generate sound waves having a same
phase to reduce the leaked sound waves with the same wavelength. In
some embodiments, different portions of a sound guiding hole 30 may
be configured to generate sound waves having different phases to
reduce the leaked sound waves with different wavelengths.
[0114] Additionally, the sound wave inside the housing may be
processed to basically have the same value but opposite phases with
the leaked sound wave, so that the sound leakage may be further
reduced.
Embodiment Three
[0115] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic structures illustrating an
exemplary bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of
the present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an
open housing 10, a panel 21, and a transducer 22. The housing 10
may cylindrical and have a sidewall and a bottom. A plurality of
sound guiding holes 30 may be arranged on the lower portion of the
sidewall (i.e., from about the 2/3 height of the sidewall to the
bottom). The quantity of the sound guiding holes 30 may be 8, the
openings of the sound guiding holes 30 may be rectangle. The sound
guiding holes 30 may be arranged evenly or evenly in one or more
circles on the sidewall of the housing 10.
[0116] In the embodiment, the transducer 22 is preferably
implemented based on the principle of electromagnetic transduction.
The transducer 22 may include components such as a magnetic circuit
system (e.g., a magnetizer), a set of coils (e.g., a voice coil),
and etc., and the components may locate inside the housing and may
generate synchronous vibrations with a same frequency.
[0117] FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage
according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the
frequency range of 1400 Hz.about.4000 Hz, the sound leakage is
reduced by more than 5 dB, and in the frequency range of 2250
Hz.about.2500 Hz, the sound leakage is reduced by more than 20
dB.
[0118] In some embodiments, the sound guiding hole(s) at the lower
portion of the sidewall of the housing 10 may also be approximately
regarded as a point sound source. In some embodiments, the sound
guiding hole(s) at the lower portion of the sidewall of the housing
10 and the portion of the housing 10 that generates the leaked
sound wave may constitute two-point sound sources. The two-point
sound sources may be formed such that the guided sound wave output
from the sound guiding hole(s) at the lower portion of the sidewall
of the housing 10 may interfere with the leaked sound wave
generated by the portion of the housing 10. The interference may
reduce a sound pressure level of the leaked sound wave in the
surrounding environment (e.g., the target region) at a specific
frequency or frequency range.
[0119] In some embodiments, the sound waves output from the
two-point sound sources may have a same frequency or frequency
range (e.g., 1000 Hz, 2500 Hz, 3000 Hz, etc.). In some embodiments,
the sound waves output from the first two-point sound sources may
have a certain phase difference. In this case, the interference
between the sound waves generated by the first two-point sound
sources may reduce a sound pressure level of the leaked sound wave
in the target region. When the position and phase difference of the
first two-point sound sources meet certain conditions, the acoustic
output device may output different sound effects in the near field
(for example, the position of the user's ear) and the far field.
For example, if the phases of the first two-point sound sources are
opposite, that is, an absolute value of the phase difference
between the first two-point sound sources is 180 degrees, the
far-field leakage may be reduced.
[0120] In some embodiments, the interference between the guided
sound wave and the leaked sound wave may relate to frequencies of
the guided sound wave and the leaked sound wave and/or a distance
between the sound guiding hole(s) and the portion of the housing
10. For example, if the sound guiding hole(s) are set at the lower
portion of the sidewall of the housing 10 (as illustrated in FIG.
7A), the distance between the sound guiding hole(s) and the portion
of the housing 10 may be small. Correspondingly, the frequencies of
sound waves generated by such two-point sound sources may be in a
high frequency range (e.g., above 3000 Hz, above 3500 Hz, etc.).
Referring to FIG. 7C, the interference may reduce the sound
pressure level of the leaked sound wave in the high frequency
range.
Embodiment Four
[0121] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic structures illustrating an
exemplary bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of
the present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an
open housing 10, a panel 21, and a transducer 22. The housing 10 is
cylindrical and have a sidewall and a bottom. The sound guiding
holes 30 may be arranged on the central portion of the sidewall of
the housing (i.e., from about the 1/3 height of the sidewall to the
2/3 height of the sidewall). The quantity of the sound guiding
holes 30 may be 8, and the openings (and cross sections) of the
sound guiding hole 30 may be rectangle. The sound guiding holes 30
may be arranged evenly or unevenly in one or more circles on the
sidewall of the housing 10.
[0122] In the embodiment, the transducer 21 may be implemented
preferably based on the principle of electromagnetic transduction.
The transducer 21 may include components such as magnetizer, voice
coil, etc., which may be placed inside the housing and may generate
synchronous vibrations with the same frequency.
[0123] FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating reduced sound leakage. In
the frequency range of 1000 Hz.about.4000 Hz, the effectiveness of
reducing sound leakage is great. For example, in the frequency
range of 1400 Hz.about.2900 Hz, the sound leakage is reduced by
more than 10 dB; in the frequency range of 2200 Hz.about.2500 Hz,
the sound leakage is reduced by more than 20 dB.
[0124] It's illustrated that the effectiveness of reduced sound
leakage can be adjusted by changing the positions of the sound
guiding holes, while keeping other parameters relating to the sound
guiding holes unchanged.
Embodiment Five
[0125] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an open
housing 10, a panel 21 and a transducer 22. The housing 10 is
cylindrical, with a sidewall and a bottom. One or more perforative
sound guiding holes 30 may be along the circumference of the
bottom. In some embodiments, there may be 8 sound guiding holes 30
arranged evenly of unevenly in one or more circles on the bottom of
the housing 10. In some embodiments, the shape of one or more of
the sound guiding holes 30 may be rectangle.
[0126] In the embodiment, the transducer 21 may be implemented
preferably based on the principle of electromagnetic transduction.
The transducer 21 may include components such as magnetizer, voice
coil, etc., which may be placed inside the housing and may generate
synchronous vibration with the same frequency.
[0127] FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating the effect of reduced
sound leakage. In the frequency range of 1000 Hz.about.3000 Hz, the
effectiveness of reducing sound leakage is outstanding. For
example, in the frequency range of 1700 Hz.about.2700 Hz, the sound
leakage is reduced by more than 10 dB; in the frequency range of
2200 Hz.about.2400 Hz, the sound leakage is reduced by more than 20
dB.
Embodiment Six
[0128] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic structures of an exemplary
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an open
housing 10, a panel 21 and a transducer 22. One or more perforative
sound guiding holes 30 may be arranged on both upper and lower
portions of the sidewall of the housing 10. The sound guiding holes
30 may be arranged evenly or unevenly in one or more circles on the
upper and lower portions of the sidewall of the housing 10. In some
embodiments, the quantity of sound guiding holes 30 in every circle
may be 8, and the upper portion sound guiding holes and the lower
portion sound guiding holes may be symmetrical about the central
cross section of the housing 10. In some embodiments, the shape of
the sound guiding hole 30 may be circle.
[0129] The shape of the sound guiding holes on the upper portion
and the shape of the sound guiding holes on the lower portion may
be different; One or more damping layers may be arranged in the
sound guiding holes to reduce leaked sound waves of the same wave
length (or frequency), or to reduce leaked sound waves of different
wave lengths.
[0130] FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating the effect of reducing
sound leakage according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure. In the frequency range of 1000 Hz.about.4000 Hz, the
effectiveness of reducing sound leakage is outstanding. For
example, in the frequency range of 1600 Hz.about.2700 Hz, the sound
leakage is reduced by more than 15 dB; in the frequency range of
2000 Hz.about.2500 Hz, where the effectiveness of reducing sound
leakage is most outstanding, the sound leakage is reduced by more
than 20 dB. Compared to embodiment three, this scheme has a
relatively balanced effect of reduced sound leakage on various
frequency range, and this effect is better than the effect of
schemes where the height of the holes are fixed, such as schemes of
embodiment three, embodiment four, embodiment five, and so on.
[0131] In some embodiments, the sound guiding hole(s) at the upper
portion of the sidewall of the housing 10 (also referred to as
first hole(s)) may be approximately regarded as a point sound
source. In some embodiments, the first hole(s) and the portion of
the housing 10 that generates the leaked sound wave may constitute
two-point sound sources (also referred to as first two-point sound
sources). As for the first two-point sound sources, the guided
sound wave generated by the first hole(s) (also referred to as
first guided sound wave) may interfere with the leaked sound wave
or a portion thereof generated by the portion of the housing 10 in
a first region. In some embodiments, the sound waves output from
the first two-point sound sources may have a same frequency (e.g.,
a first frequency). In some embodiments, the sound waves output
from the first two-point sound sources may have a certain phase
difference. In this case, the interference between the sound waves
generated by the first two-point sound sources may reduce a sound
pressure level of the leaked sound wave in the target region. When
the position and phase difference of the first two-point sound
sources meet certain conditions, the acoustic output device may
output different sound effects in the near field (for example, the
position of the user's ear) and the far field. For example, if the
phases of the first two-point sound sources are opposite, that is,
an absolute value of the phase difference between the first
two-point sound sources is 180 degrees, the far-field leakage may
be reduced according to the principle of reversed phase
cancellation.
[0132] In some embodiments, the sound guiding hole(s) at the lower
portion of the sidewall of the housing 10 (also referred to as
second hole(s)) may also be approximately regarded as another point
sound source. Similarly, the second hole(s) and the portion of the
housing 10 that generates the leaked sound wave may also constitute
two-point sound sources (also referred to as second two-point sound
sources). As for the second two-point sound sources, the guided
sound wave generated by the second hole(s) (also referred to as
second guided sound wave) may interfere with the leaked sound wave
or a portion thereof generated by the portion of the housing 10 in
a second region. The second region may be the same as or different
from the first region. In some embodiments, the sound waves output
from the second two-point sound sources may have a same frequency
(e.g., a second frequency).
[0133] In some embodiments, the first frequency and the second
frequency may be in certain frequency ranges. In some embodiments,
the frequency of the guided sound wave output from the sound
guiding hole(s) may be adjustable. In some embodiments, the
frequency of the first guided sound wave and/or the second guided
sound wave may be adjusted by one or more acoustic routes. The
acoustic routes may be coupled to the first hole(s) and/or the
second hole(s). The first guided sound wave and/or the second
guided sound wave may be propagated along the acoustic route having
a specific frequency selection characteristic. That is, the first
guided sound wave and the second guided sound wave may be
transmitted to their corresponding sound guiding holes via
different acoustic routes. For example, the first guided sound wave
and/or the second guided sound wave may be propagated along an
acoustic route with a low-pass characteristic to a corresponding
sound guiding hole to output guided sound wave of a low frequency.
In this process, the high frequency component of the sound wave may
be absorbed or attenuated by the acoustic route with the low-pass
characteristic. Similarly, the first guided sound wave and/or the
second guided sound wave may be propagated along an acoustic route
with a high-pass characteristic to the corresponding sound guiding
hole to output guided sound wave of a high frequency. In this
process, the low frequency component of the sound wave may be
absorbed or attenuated by the acoustic route with the high-pass
characteristic.
[0134] FIG. 10D is a schematic diagram illustrating an acoustic
route according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.
10E is a schematic diagram illustrating another acoustic route
according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 10F
is a schematic diagram illustrating a further acoustic route
according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, structures such as a sound tube, a sound cavity, a
sound resistance, etc., may be set in the acoustic route for
adjusting frequencies for the sound waves (e.g., by filtering
certain frequencies). It should be noted that FIGS. 10D-10F may be
provided as examples of the acoustic routes, and not intended be
limiting.
[0135] As shown in FIG. 10D, the acoustic route may include one or
more lumen structures. The one or more lumen structures may be
connected in series. An acoustic resistance material may be
provided in each of at least one of the one or more lumen
structures to adjust acoustic impedance of the entire structure to
achieve a desirable sound filtering effect. For example, the
acoustic impedance may be in a range of 5 MKS Rayleigh to 500 MKS
Rayleigh. In some embodiments, a high-pass sound filtering, a
low-pass sound filtering, and/or a band-pass filtering effect of
the acoustic route may be achieved by adjusting a size of each of
at least one of the one or more lumen structures and/or a type of
acoustic resistance material in each of at least one of the one or
more lumen structures. The acoustic resistance materials may
include, but not limited to, plastic, textile, metal, permeable
material, woven material, screen material or mesh material, porous
material, particulate material, polymer material, or the like, or
any combination thereof. By setting the acoustic routes of
different acoustic impedances, the acoustic output from the sound
guiding holes may be acoustically filtered. In this case, the
guided sound waves may have different frequency components.
[0136] As shown in FIG. 10E, the acoustic route may include one or
more resonance cavities. The one or more resonance cavities may be,
for example, Helmholtz cavity. In some embodiments, a high-pass
sound filtering, a low-pass sound filtering, and/or a band-pass
filtering effect of the acoustic route may be achieved by adjusting
a size of each of at least one of the one or more resonance
cavities and/or a type of acoustic resistance material in each of
at least one of the one or more resonance cavities.
[0137] As shown in FIG. 10F, the acoustic route may include a
combination of one or more lumen structures and one or more
resonance cavities. In some embodiments, a high-pass sound
filtering, a low-pass sound filtering, and/or a band-pass filtering
effect of the acoustic route may be achieved by adjusting a size of
each of at least one of the one or more lumen structures and one or
more resonance cavities and/or a type of acoustic resistance
material in each of at least one of the one or more lumen
structures and one or more resonance cavities. It should be noted
that the structures exemplified above may be for illustration
purposes, various acoustic structures may also be provided, such as
a tuning net, tuning cotton, etc.
[0138] In some embodiments, the interference between the leaked
sound wave and the guided sound wave may relate to frequencies of
the guided sound wave and the leaked sound wave and/or a distance
between the sound guiding hole(s) and the portion of the housing
10. In some embodiments, the portion of the housing that generates
the leaked sound wave may be the bottom of the housing 10. The
first hole(s) may have a larger distance to the portion of the
housing 10 than the second hole(s). In some embodiments, the
frequency of the first guided sound wave output from the first
hole(s) (e.g., the first frequency) and the frequency of second
guided sound wave output from second hole(s) (e.g., the second
frequency) may be different.
[0139] In some embodiments, the first frequency and second
frequency may associate with the distance between the at least one
sound guiding hole and the portion of the housing 10 that generates
the leaked sound wave. In some embodiments, the first frequency may
be set in a low frequency range. The second frequency may be set in
a high frequency range. The low frequency range and the high
frequency range may or may not overlap.
[0140] In some embodiments, the frequency of the leaked sound wave
generated by the portion of the housing 10 may be in a wide
frequency range. The wide frequency range may include, for example,
the low frequency range and the high frequency range or a portion
of the low frequency range and the high frequency range. For
example, the leaked sound wave may include a first frequency in the
low frequency range and a second frequency in the high frequency
range. In some embodiments, the leaked sound wave of the first
frequency and the leaked sound wave of the second frequency may be
generated by different portions of the housing 10. For example, the
leaked sound wave of the first frequency may be generated by the
sidewall of the housing 10, the leaked sound wave of the second
frequency may be generated by the bottom of the housing 10. As
another example, the leaked sound wave of the first frequency may
be generated by the bottom of the housing 10, the leaked sound wave
of the second frequency may be generated by the sidewall of the
housing 10. In some embodiments, the frequency of the leaked sound
wave generated by the portion of the housing 10 may relate to
parameters including the mass, the damping, the stiffness, etc., of
the different portion of the housing 10, the frequency of the
transducer 22, etc.
[0141] In some embodiments, the characteristics (amplitude,
frequency, and phase) of the first two-point sound sources and the
second two-point sound sources may be adjusted via various
parameters of the acoustic output device (e.g., electrical
parameters of the transducer 22, the mass, stiffness, size,
structure, material, etc., of the portion of the housing 10, the
position, shape, structure, and/or number (or count) of the sound
guiding hole(s) so as to form a sound field with a particular
spatial distribution. In some embodiments, a frequency of the first
guided sound wave is smaller than a frequency of the second guided
sound wave.
[0142] A combination of the first two-point sound sources and the
second two-point sound sources may improve sound effects both in
the near field and the far field.
[0143] Referring to FIGS. 4D, 7C, and 10C, by designing different
two-point sound sources with different distances, the sound leakage
in both the low frequency range and the high frequency range may be
properly suppressed. In some embodiments, the closer distance
between the second two-point sound sources may be more suitable for
suppressing the sound leakage in the far field, and the relative
longer distance between the first two-point sound sources may be
more suitable for reducing the sound leakage in the near field. In
some embodiments, the amplitudes of the sound waves generated by
the first two-point sound sources may be set to be different in the
low frequency range. For example, the amplitude of the guided sound
wave may be smaller than the amplitude of the leaked sound wave. In
this case, the sound pressure level of the near-field sound may be
improved. The volume of the sound heard by the user may be
increased.
Embodiment Seven
[0144] FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic structures illustrating a
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an open
housing 10, a panel 21 and a transducer 22. One or more perforative
sound guiding holes 30 may be set on upper and lower portions of
the sidewall of the housing 10 and on the bottom of the housing 10.
The sound guiding holes 30 on the sidewall are arranged evenly or
unevenly in one or more circles on the upper and lower portions of
the sidewall of the housing 10. In some embodiments, the quantity
of sound guiding holes 30 in every circle may be 8, and the upper
portion sound guiding holes and the lower portion sound guiding
holes may be symmetrical about the central cross section of the
housing 10. In some embodiments, the shape of the sound guiding
hole 30 may be rectangular. There may be four sound guiding holds
30 on the bottom of the housing 10. The four sound guiding holes 30
may be linear-shaped along arcs, and may be arranged evenly or
unevenly in one or more circles with respect to the center of the
bottom. Furthermore, the sound guiding holes 30 may include a
circular perforative hole on the center of the bottom.
[0145] FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating the effect of reducing
sound leakage of the embodiment. In the frequency range of 1000
Hz.about.4000 Hz, the effectiveness of reducing sound leakage is
outstanding. For example, in the frequency range of 1300
Hz.about.3000 Hz, the sound leakage is reduced by more than 10 dB;
in the frequency range of 2000 Hz.about.2700 Hz, the sound leakage
is reduced by more than 20 dB. Compared to embodiment three, this
scheme has a relatively balanced effect of reduced sound leakage
within various frequency range, and this effect is better than the
effect of schemes where the height of the holes are fixed, such as
schemes of embodiment three, embodiment four, embodiment five, and
etc. Compared to embodiment six, in the frequency range of 1000
Hz.about.1700 Hz and 2500 Hz.about.4000 Hz, this scheme has a
better effect of reduced sound leakage than embodiment six.
Embodiment Eight
[0146] FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic structures illustrating a
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an open
housing 10, a panel 21 and a transducer 22. A perforative sound
guiding hole 30 may be set on the upper portion of the sidewall of
the housing 10. One or more sound guiding holes may be arranged
evenly or unevenly in one or more circles on the upper portion of
the sidewall of the housing 10. There may be 8 sound guiding holes
30, and the shape of the sound guiding holes 30 may be circle.
[0147] After comparison of calculation results and test results,
the effectiveness of this embodiment is basically the same with
that of embodiment one, and this embodiment can effectively reduce
sound leakage.
Embodiment Nine
[0148] FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic structures illustrating a
bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the
present disclosure. The bone conduction speaker may include an open
housing 10, a panel 21 and a transducer 22.
[0149] The difference between this embodiment and the
above-described embodiment three is that to reduce sound leakage to
greater extent, the sound guiding holes 30 may be arranged on the
upper, central and lower portions of the sidewall 11. The sound
guiding holes 30 are arranged evenly or unevenly in one or more
circles. Different circles are formed by the sound guiding holes
30, one of which is set along the circumference of the bottom 12 of
the housing 10. The size of the sound guiding holes 30 are the
same.
[0150] The effect of this scheme may cause a relatively balanced
effect of reducing sound leakage in various frequency ranges
compared to the schemes where the position of the holes are fixed.
The effect of this design on reducing sound leakage is relatively
better than that of other designs where the heights of the holes
are fixed, such as embodiment three, embodiment four, embodiment
five, etc.
Embodiment Ten
[0151] The sound guiding holes 30 in the above embodiments may be
perforative holes without shields.
[0152] In order to adjust the effect of the sound waves guided from
the sound guiding holes, a damping layer (not shown in the figures)
may locate at the opening of a sound guiding hole 30 to adjust the
phase and/or the amplitude of the sound wave.
[0153] There are multiple variations of materials and positions of
the damping layer. For example, the damping layer may be made of
materials which can damp sound waves, such as tuning paper, tuning
cotton, nonwoven fabric, silk, cotton, sponge or rubber. The
damping layer may be attached on the inner wall of the sound
guiding hole 30, or may shield the sound guiding hole 30 from
outside.
[0154] More preferably, the damping layers corresponding to
different sound guiding holes 30 may be arranged to adjust the
sound waves from different sound guiding holes to generate a same
phase. The adjusted sound waves may be used to reduce leaked sound
wave having the same wavelength. Alternatively, different sound
guiding holes 30 may be arranged to generate different phases to
reduce leaked sound wave having different wavelengths (i.e., leaked
sound waves with specific wavelengths).
[0155] In some embodiments, different portions of a same sound
guiding hole can be configured to generate a same phase to reduce
leaked sound waves on the same wavelength (e.g., using a pre-set
damping layer with the shape of stairs or steps). In some
embodiments, different portions of a same sound guiding hole can be
configured to generate different phases to reduce leaked sound
waves on different wavelengths.
[0156] The above-described embodiments are preferable embodiments
with various configurations of the sound guiding hole(s) on the
housing of a bone conduction speaker, but a person having ordinary
skills in the art can understand that the embodiments don't limit
the configurations of the sound guiding hole(s) to those described
in this application.
[0157] In the past bone conduction speakers, the housing of the
bone conduction speakers is closed, so the sound source inside the
housing is sealed inside the housing. In the embodiments of the
present disclosure, there can be holes in proper positions of the
housing, making the sound waves inside the housing and the leaked
sound waves having substantially same amplitude and substantially
opposite phases in the space, so that the sound waves can interfere
with each other and the sound leakage of the bone conduction
speaker is reduced. Meanwhile, the volume and weight of the speaker
do not increase, the reliability of the product is not comprised,
and the cost is barely increased. The designs disclosed herein are
easy to implement, reliable, and effective in reducing sound
leakage.
Embodiment Eleven
[0158] A vibration generation portion of a bone conduction speaker
may be shown in FIG. 14A. A transducer of the bone conduction
speaker may include a magnetic circuit system including a magnetic
flux conduction plate 1410, a magnet 1411 and a magnetizer 1412, a
vibration board 1414, a coil 1415, a first vibration conductive
plate 1416, and a second vibration conductive plate 1417. The panel
1413 may protrude out of the housing 1419 and may be connected to
the vibration board 1414 by glue. The transducer may be fixed to
the housing 1419 via the first vibration conductive plate 1416
forming a suspended structure.
[0159] A compound vibration system including the vibration board
1414, the first vibration conductive plate 1416, and the second
vibration conductive plate 1417 may generate a smoother frequency
response curve, so as to improve the sound quality of the bone
conduction speaker. The transducer may be fixed to the housing 1419
via the first vibration conductive plate 1416 to reduce the
vibration that the transducer is transferring to the housing, thus
effectively decreasing sound leakage caused by the vibration of the
housing, and reducing the effect of the vibration of the housing on
the sound quality. FIG. 14B shows frequency response curves of the
vibration intensities of the housing of the vibration generation
portion and the panel. The bold line refers to the frequency
response of the vibration generation portion including the first
vibration conductive plate 1416, and the thin line refers to the
frequency response of the vibration generation portion without the
first vibration conductive plate 1416. As shown in FIG. 14B, the
vibration intensity of the housing of the bone conduction speaker
without the first vibration conductive plate 1416 may be larger
than that of the bone conduction speaker with the first vibration
conductive plate 1416 when the frequency is higher than 500 Hz.
FIG. 14C shows a comparison of the sound leakage between a bone
conduction speaker includes the first vibration conductive plate
1416 and another bone conduction speaker does not include the first
vibration conductive plate 1416. The sound leakage when the bone
conduction speaker includes the first vibration conductive plate
may be smaller than the sound leakage when the bone conduction
speaker does not include the first vibration conductive plate in
the intermediate frequency range (for example, about 1000 Hz). It
can be concluded that the use of the first vibration conductive
plate between the panel and the housing may effectively reduce the
vibration of the housing, thereby reducing the sound leakage.
[0160] The first vibration conductive plate 1416 may be made of the
material, for example but not limited to stainless steel, copper,
plastic, polycarbonate, or the like, and the thickness may be in a
range of 0.01 mm-1 mm.
[0161] FIG. 15 illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure. The vibration generation portion
illustrated in FIG. 15 may be different with the vibration
generation portion illustrated in FIG. 14A in the following
aspects. As shown in FIG. 15, the panel 1513 may be configured to
have a vibration transfer layer 1520 (for example but not limited
to, silicone rubber) to produce a certain deformation to match a
user's skin. A contact portion being in contact with the panel 1513
on the vibration transfer layer 1520 may be higher than a portion
not being in contact with the panel 1513 on the vibration transfer
layer 1520 to form a step structure. The portion not being in
contact with the panel 1513 on the vibration transfer layer 1520
may be configured to have one or more holes 1521. In some
embodiment, the vibration generation portion may be located before
or inside an ear of the user. The vibration transfer layer 1520 may
contact the user's skin (the vibration transfer layer 1520 may be
referred to as the inner side of the housing 1519). In such cases,
at least one of the one or more holes 1521 on the vibration
transfer layer 1520 may face the user. Merely by way of example,
the vibration transfer layer 1520 may contact the interior of the
user's auricle such that the least one of the one or more holes
1521 may face an ear canal of the user. In some embodiment, the one
or more holes 1521 may be configured to guide sound waves inside
the housing 1519 of the bone conduction speaker through the one or
more holes to an outside of the housing 1519. In such cases, the
bone conduction speaker may also be used as an air conduction
speaker. In some embodiment, the holes on the vibration transfer
layer 1520 may reduce the sound leakage: the connection between the
panel 1513 and the housing 1519 via the vibration transfer layer
1520 may be weakened, and vibration transferred from panel 1513 to
the housing 1519 via the vibration transfer layer 1520 may be
reduced, thereby reducing the sound leakage caused by the vibration
of the housing; the area of the vibration transfer layer 1520
configured to have holes on the portion without protrusion may be
reduced, thereby reducing air and sound leakage caused by the
vibration of the air; the vibration of air in the housing 1519 may
be guided out, interfering with the vibration of air caused by the
housing 1519, thereby reducing the sound leakage.
[0162] FIG. 16A illustrates an application scenario of a bone
conduction speaker according to some embodiments of the present
disclosure. In some embodiments, as the panel (e.g., the panel 1413
illustrated in FIG. 14A) may protrude out of the housing (e.g., the
housing 1419 illustrated in FIG. 14A), meanwhile, the panel may be
connected to the housing via the first vibration conductive plate
(e.g., the first vibration conductive plate 1416), the degree of
coupling between the panel and the housing may be dramatically
reduced, and the panel may be in contact with a user with a higher
freedom to adapt complex contact surfaces (as shown in the right
figure of FIG. 16A) as the first vibration conductive plate
provides a certain amount of deformation. The first vibration
conductive plate may incline the panel relative to the housing with
a certain angle. Preferably, the slope angle may not exceed 5
degrees.
[0163] The vibration efficiency may differ with contacting
statuses. A better contacting status may lead to a higher vibration
transfer efficiency. FIG. 16B illustrates a vibration response
curve of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments of
the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 16B, the bold line shows
the vibration transfer efficiency with a better contacting status,
and the thin line shows a worse contacting status. It may be
concluded that the better contacting status may correspond to a
higher vibration transfer efficiency.
[0164] FIG. 17 illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure. The difference between the vibration
generation portion illustrated in FIG. 17 and the vibration
generation portion illustrated in FIG. 14A may include the
following aspects. A boarder may be added to surround the housing.
When the housing 1719 contacts a user's skin, the surrounding
boarder 1710 may facilitate an even distribution of an applied
force, and improve the user's wearing comfort. As shown in FIG. 17,
there may be a height difference do between the surrounding border
1710 and the panel 1713. The force from the skin to the panel 1713
may decrease the distance d between the panel 1713 and the
surrounding border 1710. When the force between the bone conduction
speaker and the user is larger than the force applied to the first
vibration conductive plate 1716 with a deformation of do, the extra
force may be transferred to the user's skin via the surrounding
border 1710, without influencing the clamping force of the
vibration portion, with the consistency of the clamping force
improved, thereby ensuring the sound quality.
[0165] FIG. 18 illustrates a structure of a vibration generation
portion of a bone conduction speaker according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 18, sound guiding holes
may be located at the vibration transfer layer 1820 and the housing
1819, respectively. As described in connection with FIG. 15, the
vibration generation portion may be located before or inside an ear
of the user. The vibration transfer layer 1820 may contact the
user's skin. In such cases, at least one of the sound guiding holes
on the vibration transfer layer 1820 may face the user. Merely by
way of example, the vibration transfer layer 1820 may contact the
interior of the user's auricle such that the least one of the sound
guiding holes on the vibration transfer layer 1820 may face an ear
canal of the user. In some embodiment, the one or more sound
guiding holes may be configured to guide sound waves inside the
housing 1819 through the one or more sound guiding holes to an
outside of the housing 1819. In such cases, the bone conduction
speaker may also be used as an air conduction speaker. In some
embodiments, the sound waves inside the housing 1819 may also be
guided to the outside of the housing 1819 through the one or more
sound guiding holes (e.g., the one or more sound guiding holes
located on a side wall of the housing), and interferes with the
leaked acoustic wave due to the vibration of the air out of the
housing, thus reducing the sound leakage.
[0166] It's noticeable that above statements are preferable
embodiments and technical principles thereof. A person having
ordinary skill in the art is easy to understand that this
disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments stated, and a
person having ordinary skill in the art can make various obvious
variations, adjustments, and substitutes within the protected scope
of this disclosure. Therefore, although above embodiments state
this disclosure in detail, this disclosure is not limited to the
embodiments, and there can be many other equivalent embodiments
within the scope of the present disclosure, and the protected scope
of this disclosure is determined by following claims.
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